More NYers are buying electric cars. Here’s why

Electric car sales are up 74 percent in New York thanks to a Drive Clean Rebate that offers $2,000 to those who purchase or lease a green car.Natasha Vaughn, Albany Bureau

New York is offering up to $2,000 in rebates for the purchase of electric cars.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

ALBANY – Electric car sales are on the rise in New York thanks to a popular rebate program that provides up to $2,000 back to customers.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that electric car sales have gone up by 74 percent across New York since last year — fueled by a Drive Clean Rebate initiative launched in March.

The state has approved 2,300 rebate applications in the first five months of the program, doling out $3 million for the purchase or lease of 26 different types of cars.

“The Drive Clean Rebate is providing car lovers with affordable options to lower their carbon footprint,” said Alicia Barton, president of the state Energy Research and Development Authority, which is administering the program.

New York has a $70 million program to promote electric cars as part of its effort to reduce carbon emissions, funded through the state budget and a charge paid by existing power plants. The state has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent in 2030.

Of that, $55 million is dedicated to the $2,000 rebates for plug-in hybrid electric cars, all-electric cars or hydrogen fuel cell car.

The remaining $15 million is going to outreach efforts and installing 3,000 car-charging stations across New York by the end of next year.

There 30 different types of cars that qualify for the rebate.

Leading car models sold include the Toyota Prius Prime, which accounted for more than 40 percent of the rebates; the Chevrolet Bolt EV (12 percent), Chevrolet Volt (10 percent), and the Ford Fusion Energi (10 percent).

Overall, most people received rebates of about $1,100, the state agency said. The rebate is based on how many miles the car can go on the electric battery: the longer it can go, the higher the rebate.

Of the rebates submitted, the most came from Long Island, followed by 404 in the Hudson Valley. In the Finger Lakes, 251 applications were received, as well as 74 in the Southern Tier.

The federal government offers its own tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of an electric car.